Puppy owners love to ask…
What’s the Best
Dry Food for Puppies?
But how could a one-size-fits-all dry dog food be “best” for every puppy?
After all…
There are 2 different TYPES of dry puppy food.
One designed for large breed puppies.
And another for smaller breeds.
Unfortunately…
Choosing the wrong food (one that contains too much calcium) could cause permanent bone damage to your pup.1 2 3
Including a crippling form of hip dysplasia.
Especially for larger breeds.
Which is why we urge you to choose a food that’s designed to be safe for YOUR dog’s breed size.
What’s Your Puppy’s
Breed Size?
Large breed puppies are those whose adult weight is expected to be more than 50 pounds.
Now…
Because larger breeds are at greater risk for hip dysplasia…
And since small and medium breeds can safely eat a wider selection of dry dog food…
The Dog Food Advisor has created a special list of foods that are best for EACH breed size.
On the list below, we’ve included both grain-inclusive and grain-free recipes to satisfy your personal feeding preferences.
Top 20 Best Dry Puppy Foods
May 2023
Here are The Dog Food Advisor’s top 20 best dry puppy foods for May 2023.
Redbarn Grain Free Dry Dog Food
Redbarn Grain-Free Sky is one of 3 dry recipes studied in our review of the Redbarn dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Turkey, chicken, chicken meal, duck meal, turkey meal
- Type: Grain-free
- Profile: All Life Stages
- Best for: All puppies including large breeds
- See all 3 available recipes
Redbarn Sky derives the bulk of its meat protein from fresh turkey and chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals a wet recipe containing 31% protein, 17% fat and 7% estimated carbs… with a fat-to-protein ratio of about 10%.
A wholesome grain-free product. Recommended with confidence.
Jinx Dry Dog Food
Salmon and Sweet Potato recipe is one of 4 dry recipes included in our review of the Jinx product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Salmon, pearled barley, ground peas, turkey meal, brown rice
- Type: Grain-inclusive (pearled barley, brown rice)
- Profile: All Life Stages
- Best for: All puppies including large breeds
- See all 4 available recipes
This Jinx recipe derives the bulk of its animal protein from fresh salmon. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 30% protein, 16% fat and 46% estimated carbs… creating a fat-to-protein ratio of about 52%.
A fully-balanced, grain-inclusive dog food. Highly recommended.
Sample buyer review… “I’ve had my pup on jinx for a year now and his tummy issues are no longer an issue. I’ve gone through so many brands before I found jinx and I’m so thankful I found them when I did.”
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Puppy Chicken and Brown Rice
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Puppy is one of 21 recipes included in our review of the Blue Buffalo Life Protection product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, oatmeal, barley,
- Type: Grain-inclusive (contains grain)
- Profile: Growth
- Best For: All puppies including large breeds
- See all 21 available recipes
This Blue Buffalo Life Protection formula derives the majority of its animal protein from chicken. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 30% protein, 18% fat and 44% estimated carbs… resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 59%.
A superior growth formula.
Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain Dry Puppy Formula
Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain Puppy is one of 13 recipes included in our review of the Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, dehydrated chicken, whole spelt, whole oats, chicken fat
- Type: Grain-inclusive (contains grain)
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: All puppies including large breeds
- See all 15 available recipes
This Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain formula derives the bulk of its animal protein from chicken. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 38% protein, 22% fat and 32% estimated carbs… yielding a fat-to-protein ratio of about 57%.
Highly recommended.
Wellness Complete Health Dry Puppy Food
Wellness Complete Health Puppy is one of 13 recipes included in our review of the Wellness Complete Health product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, oatmeal, ground barley, peas
- Type: Grain-inclusive (contains grain)
- Profile: Growth
- Best For: All puppies including large breeds
- See all 13 available recipes
This Wellness Complete Health formula derives the bulk of its meat protein from deboned chicken and chicken meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 32% protein, 20% fat and 40% estimated carbs… which produces a fat-to-protein ratio of about 62%.
A top pick for controlled growth.
Go! Carnivore Dry Puppy Food
Go! Carnivore Puppy is one of 5 recipes included in our review of the Go! Carnivore product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken meal, turkey meal, salmon meal, de-boned chicken, de-boned turkey
- Type: Grain-free
- Profile: Growth
- Best For: Small and medium breed puppies
- See all 5 available recipes
This Go! Carnivore product derives the bulk of its animal protein from poultry meal, salmon meal and deboned poultry. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 40% protein, 20% fat and 32% estimated carbs… producing a fat-to-protein ratio of about 50%.
An above-average growth recipe.
Orijen Dry Puppy Food
Orijen Puppy is one of 9 recipes included in our review of the Orijen product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, turkey, turkey giblets (liver, heart, gizzard), flounder, whole mackerel
- Type: Grain-free
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: All puppies including large breeds
- See all 9 available recipes
This Orijen all life stages product derives most of its meat protein from deboned poultry and fish. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 43% protein, 23% fat and 26% estimated carbs… which yields a fat-to-protein ratio of about 53%.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Chicken Soup for the Soul Puppy Chicken, Turkey and Brown Rice
Chicken Soup for the Soul Puppy Chicken, Turkey and Brown Rice is one of 11 recipes included in our review of the Chicken Soup for the Soul product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, turkey, chicken meal, turkey meal, cracked pearled barley
- Type: Grain-inclusive (contains grain)
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: Small and medium breed puppies
- See all 9 available recipes
This Chicken Soup for the Soul all life stages food derives the majority of its animal protein from poultry and poultry meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 33% protein, 20% fat and 39% estimated carbs… resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 60%.
A quality growth recipe.
Instinct Raw Boost Dry Puppy Food
Instinct Raw Boost Puppy is one of 12 recipes included in our review of the Instinct Raw Boost product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, peas, egg product
- Type: Grain-free
- Profile: Growth
- Best For: Small and medium breed puppies
- See all 12 available recipes
This Instinct Raw Boost growth formula derives the majority of its animal protein from chicken, chicken meal and turkey meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 37% protein, 24% fat and 31% estimated carbs… which produces a fat-to-protein ratio of about 63%.
An exceptional growth formula.
Blackwood Puppy Food Growth Diet
Blackwood Puppy Food Growth Diet is one of 5 recipes included in our review of the Blackwood Everyday Recipes product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken meal, brown rice, millet, chicken fat, ground grain sorghum
- Type: Grain-inclusive
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: All puppies including large breeds
- See all 5 available recipes
This Blackwood growth formula derives the majority of its meat protein from chicken meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 30% protein, 19% fat and 43% estimated carbs… which produces a fat-to-protein ratio of about 63%.
A superior all life stages recipe.
Fromm Gold Dry Puppy
Gold Puppy is one of 9 dry formulas included in our review of the Fromm Gold product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, chicken broth, oat groats, pearled barley
- Type: Grain-inclusive (contains grain)
- Profile: Growth
- Best For: All puppies including large breeds
- See all 9 available recipes
Fromm Gold Puppy nets most of its meat protein from fresh chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals a dry kibble recipe containing 30% protein, 20% fat and 42% estimated carbs… and resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 67%.
This fully balanced design is high in nutrient digestibility. The company uses third party pathogenic bacteria testing to verify the safety on every batch. We also note the inclusion of Fromm’s proprietary blend of probiotics for healthy digestion.
Highly recommended.
Wellness Core Dry Puppy Food
Wellness Core Puppy is one of 12 recipes included in our review of the Wellness Core product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, potatoes, peas
- Type: Grain-free
- Profile: Growth
- Best For: All puppies including large breeds
- See all 12 available recipes
This Wellness Core growth formula derives most of its animal protein from chicken and poultry meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 40% protein, 19% fat and 33% estimated carbs… which results in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 49%.
An excellent choice.
AvoDerm Chicken Meal and Brown Rice Puppy
AvoDerm Puppy is one of 9 recipes included in our review of the AvoDerm product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken meal, ground brown rice, ground white rice, chicken fat, oatmeal,
- Type: Grain-inclusive (contains grain)
- Profile: Growth
- Best For: All puppies including large breeds
- See all 9 available recipes
This AvoDerm Natural growth formula derives the bulk of its animal protein from chicken meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 29% protein, 18% fat and 45% estimated carbs… which creates a fat-to-protein ratio of about 62%.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Nulo Freestyle Puppy Turkey and Sweet Potato
Nulo Freestyle Puppy Turkey and Sweet Potato is one of 9 recipes included in our review of the Nulo Freestyle product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned turkey, turkey meal, salmon meal, chickpeas, chicken fat
- Type: Grain-free
- Profile: Growth
- Best For: All puppies including large breeds
- See all 9 available recipes
This Nulo Freestyle growth formulation derives the majority of its meat protein from turkey, turkey meal and salmon meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 37% protein, 20% fat and 35% estimated carbs… which results in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 55%.
An exceptional food.
Nutro Ultra Dry Puppy Food
Nutro Ultra Puppy is one of 9 recipes included in our review of the Nutro Ultra product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, whole grain barley, whole grain oats, whole grain brown rice
- Type: Grain-inclusive (contains grain)
- Profile: All Life Stages
- Best For: Small and medium breed puppies
- See all 9 available recipes
This Nutro Ultra growth product derives the bulk of its animal protein from chicken and chicken meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 31% protein, 19% fat and 42% estimated carbs… producing a fat-to-protein ratio of about 61%.
An excellent growth formula.
Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Puppy
Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Puppy is one of 13 recipes included in our review of the Merrick Classic product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, barley, oatmeal
- Type: Grain-inclusive (contains grain)
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: All puppies including large breeds
- See all 13 available recipes
This Merrick Classic product derives the bulk of its animal protein from fresh chicken. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 31% protein, 18% fat and 43% estimated carbs… yielding a fat-to-protein ratio of about 57%.
Highly recommended.
Annamaet Grain-Free Ohana Puppy Food
Annamaet Ohana is one of 7 recipes included in our review of the Annamaet Grain-Free product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Cod head, whitefish meal, coconut flour, lentils, whole dry eggs
- Type: Grain-free
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: All puppies including large breeds
- See all 7 available recipes
Annamaet Ohana derives most of its meat protein from fish and fish meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 33% protein, 18% fat and 41% estimated carbs… producing a fat-to-protein ratio of about 53%.
A top recipe for growing dogs.
Holistic Select Grain Free Adult and Puppy Health
Holistic Select Grain Free Adult and Puppy Health is one of 11 recipes included in our review of the Holistic Select Grain Free product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Salmon, anchovy and sardine meal, potatoes, peas, menhaden fish meal
- Type: Grain-free
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: Small and medium breed puppies
- See all 11 available recipes
This Holistic Select Grain Free all life stages product derives most of its meat protein from salmon and fish meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 32% protein, 16% fat and 44% estimated carbs… creating a fat-to-protein ratio of about 48%.
A superior all life stages recipe.
Victor Purpose Nutra Pro Dry Kibble
Victor Purpose Nutra Pro is one of 6 recipes included in our review of the Victor Purpose product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken meal, blood meal, whole grain millet, chicken fat, yeast culture
- Type: Grain-inclusive
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: All puppies including large breeds
- See all 6 available recipes
Victor Purpose Nutra Pro derives the bulk of its meat protein from chicken meal and blood meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 42% protein, 20% fat and 31% estimated carbs… yielding a fat-to-protein ratio of about 47%.
A quality all life stages recipe. Highly recommended.
More Top Picks
To view more top puppy foods… choose the link below that best meets your personal feeding needs.
- Best Puppy Foods
- Best Wet Puppy Food
- Best Large Breed Puppy Food
- Best Puppy Food for Small Breeds
- Best Organic Dog Foods
- Best Fresh Food for Dogs
- Best Natural Dog Foods
- Best Food for Australian Shepherds
- Best Food for Boxers
- Best Food for Chihuahuas
- Best Food for Dachshunds
- Best Food for French Bulldogs
- Best Food for German Shepherds
- Best Food for Golden Retrievers
- Best Food for Goldendoodles
- Best Food for Labrador Retrievers
- Best Food for Pitbulls
- Best Food for Shih Tzus
- Best Food for Siberian Huskies
- Best Food for Yorkies
A Final Word
The Dog Food Advisor does not accept money, gifts, samples or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.
However, we do receive a referral fee from online retailers (like Chewy or Amazon) and from sellers of perishable pet food when readers click over to their websites from ours. This helps cover the cost of operation of our free blog. Thanks for your support.
For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.
References
- Lauten SD, Nutritional Risks to Large Breed Dogs: From Weaning to the Geriatric Years, Vet Clin Small Anim 36 (2006) 1345–1359. ↩
- Richardson, Skeletal diseases of the growing dog: Nutritional influences and the role of diet, Canine Hip Dysplasia: A Symposium Held at Western Veterinary Conference, 1995 ↩
- Hazewinkel HAW. Nutrition in relation to skeletal growth deformities. J Sm Anim Practice. 1989; 30:525-630 ↩
